The murder victim was a socialite and heiress. Her husband (Bridges), a very upwardly mobile San Francisco newspaper publisher, now owns his wife’s fortune. Embittered by past experiences in criminal law, Close is pressed to defend Bridge, once he convinces her of his innocence. Then she falls in love with him. Triple-Oscar nominees Bridges and Close play a balancing act that is both glossy and psychologically interesting.

Courtroom drama, which is becoming increasingly hard to make on the big screen, consumes perhaps 30% of this film and, for the most part, the benchmarks are compelling.

Pic, in quick strokes, raises jagged questions about an imperfect justice system. Although the conflicting parameters of mother-lover-professional woman are becoming naggingly repetitive, the Close persona is a fully realized and dimensional one.